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OPERATION WATCHTOWER-What do you have from Guadalcanal?


BEAST
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We have other campaign specific threads, but I didn't see one for Guadalcanal. I started this one in the Groupings sections, as I am hoping that we will have a variety of items uniforms, medals, helmets, documents, etc from all of the services. So let's see what you have from the 'Canal!

 

 

First up, a veteran of the 9th Defense Battalion who arrived on Guadalcanal in December 1942. Inside the coat, you can see the stitch marks for the First Marine Division SSI.

 

 

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Late in 1942, the 182nd Infantry, part of the Massachusetts' National Guard, arrived as reinforcements as part of the Americal Division. This sun helmet was worn by a member of the 182nd who was wounded on Guadalcanal. After he recovered, he was assigned to the OSS.

 

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Great idea for a thread, here is my contribution...

 

This Hawley liner is a surviving Guadalcanal piece and is attributed to 272680 PFC Clyde H Wells, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, a native of California.

He enlisted in 1939, was seagoing for 2 years and then was taken on strength 3/7. He survived Guadalcanal, spent time in Melbourne, Australia (this liner was found in country Victoria) and then served on Cape Gloucester and Peleliu. He was wounded at some point and finally discharged in April of 1945.

 

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Awesome stuff! Sean, I'm going to beat you to the punch on this one. Paul H Doll was a 37mm anti tank gunner who served on Guadalcanal with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines. He went on to serve on Cape Gloucester where he was wounded during the battle of hill 660 and sent back to Australia and then the US.

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Awesome stuff! Sean, I'm going to beat you to the punch on this one. Paul H Doll was a 37mm anti tank gunner who served on Guadalcanal with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines. He went on to serve on Cape Gloucester where he was wounded during the battle of hill 660 and sent back to Australia and then the US.

Touche my good man...nice tag ;)

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Fixed bail and 1st Pattern Hawley liner belonging to 20117053 Paul Bernard, a Medic with the

182nd Infantry Regiment - Americal Division.

 

Rich

 

 

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My humble contribution to this topic ... this dogtag belonged to Carleton J.Harman aka Herman, member of Co "B", 1st Bn, 7th Marines who fought at the Matanikau River and Lunga Point, as noted on the Muster Rolls.

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My humble contribution to this topic ... this dogtag belonged to Carleton J.Harman aka Herman, member of Co "B", 1st Bn, 7th Marines who fought at the Matanikau River and Lunga Point, as noted on the Muster Rolls.

Sweet, that's a great tag!

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there is a pattern forming here...we have examples of items covering 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines.

 

Very nice tag E !

 

Here is an early haversack in my collection, found in Victoria, Australia by 124Cav.

 

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I posted this uniform in the uniform section a couple weeks ago but it fits in again for this Guadalcanal section. The General (then Lt Col.) arrived at Guadalcanal Dec. '42 as head of MAG-11 and commanded all search, bomber and torpedo aircraft in the Solomons until April '43. After a short break he returned with MAG-14 in August '43 and also commanded Fighter Command in the Solomons until until march '44.

 

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I posted this uniform in the uniform section a couple weeks ago but it fits in again for this Guadalcanal section. The General (then Lt Col.) arrived at Guadalcanal Dec. '42 as head of MAG-11 and commanded all search, bomber and torpedo aircraft in the Solomons until April '43. After a short break he returned with MAG-14 in August '43 and also commanded Fighter Command in the Solomons until until march '44.

 

 

 

Do you know what his MBE (bottom left ribbon) was for?

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Do you know what his MBE (bottom left ribbon) was for?

 

I have not found that out as of yet. I have copies of the award cards for his other awards..... his DSM LOM, BS, and Air Medal but not that one. Hopefully I get that info from the FOIA request I sent in for his service file. His command included allied air assets in the Solomons so perhaps that has something to do with it.

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Can we post items made for the Marines here in Australia for the refit after Guadalcanal ?

Can you tie it in to Watchtower? For example, are these items marked to the 7th Marines and issued early in 1943? Or are these items made due to lessons learned on Guadalcanal?

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Items Like Aussie made 'pisscutters', patches etc for 1st Marine Division, equipment to replace items lost/destroyed on Guadalcanal and like that.

 

The 1st MARDIV rested and refitted here in Melbourne, Australia for 12 months after withdrawing from Guadalcanal. I believe that these items are linked to Watchtower, as part of the 'ReOrg' phase of the Operation.

 

Cheers

 

Sean

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Items Like Aussie made 'pisscutters', patches etc for 1st Marine Division, equipment to replace items lost/destroyed on Guadalcanal and like that.The 1st MARDIV rested and refitted here in Melbourne, Australia for 12 months after withdrawing from Guadalcanal. I believe that these items are linked to Watchtower, as part of the 'ReOrg' phase of the Operation.CheersSean

Sean, Let's give it a go and see what happends. I do want to be careful that we don't start posting items from the replacements who came from the US.

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Charles Wolfe jr A marine paratrooper fought on Gavutu and tasimboko islands as part of Operation Watchtower. He was wounded during the operation and later again on Iwo jima.

 

 

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